The Illustrated Child by Polly Crosby is a haunting and lyrical coming-of-age debut about love, loss, and the secrets hidden in stories. Romilly lives a magical but isolated life with her eccentric artist father?until he gains fame for a series of illustrated books featuring her. As the world intrudes and her father’s grip on reality slips, Romilly uncovers hidden messages in the drawings that hint at a far darker truth. Blending mystery, fantasy, and emotional depth, this evocative novel explores the fragility of memory, the cost of imagination, and the devastating impact of secrets left untold.